By IANS,
Chennai : Cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar celebrated his 35th birthday here Thursday along with his Mumbai Indians team-mates.
The function turned into a media circus with television crews and photographers vying with one another to record the event that was held at a five-star hotel here.
It was a three-in-one bash as two other Mumbai Indian players, Luke Ronchi (New Zealand) and Vikrant Yelagatti whose 27th and 23rd birthdays, respectively, clashed with their match against Chennai Super Kings last night, decided to celebrate it Thursday.
Tendulkar cut the rectangular-shaped cake decorated with the Mumbai Indians team logo and offered the first piece to Ronchi and then to commentator Harsha Bhogle, who is part of the team’s think tank.
Speaking on the occasion, Tendulkar said he missed his family, but his wife and two children would be joining him in Mohali tomorrow before the Mumbai Indians vs Kings XI Punjab game.
“I miss being with my wife and children on my birthday, but am happy that they will be joining me in Mohali tomorrow,” said the Mumbai Indians captain.
When asked about the “best gift” he received on his birthday, pat came the reply: “Of course, it is the best wishes from my fans and Mumbai Indians team-mates.”
Looking ahead to immediate future, Tendulkar said: “I hope to regain my fitness and perform well this year.”
Tendulkar, recovering from a groin strain, missed two Tests against visiting South Africans earlier this month besides the opening two games of Mumbai Indians in the ongoing Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament.